I know it is hard to factor in the "obliviosity" of the general public, but I find it hard to believe that so few people saw the light regarding steam in those years when the narrow gauges and steam were vanishing. I acknowledge that Americans have become more conservation or "collectible" minded within my lifetime, but as it has been pointed out, the sums asked for these locomotives was really not that great for a motivated person wanting to preserve one. I guess it boils down to the typical attitude that "someone ought to save *that*", but always expecting that "someone" to be someone else. Meanwhile the scrap man turns an irreplaceable treasure into a forever gone "nothing".
I'm the guy who was teased mercilessly because I saved the 50's and 60's convertibles when everyone else was crushing them for scrap. I never could understand such shortsightedness. My $50 "beaters" are now worth more than I make in a year. Gee, Mr. Obvious ....